Honda Asian Journey 2018 ride feature

Day 1

Our journey began at Penang, in southern Malaysia. This beach town is really beautiful with small shacks all over and the beach itself was serene and more importantly, clean. I was really looking forward to the first day of our trip, especially since my fellow riders from different countries, whom I had first met the night before, came across as really warm people. They also shared my passion for bikes which made conversations easy and fun. After an early start at Penang, we went to a parking lot by a bus where all the Honda bikes were awaiting us. Just the wide range of bikes standing in front of us goes to indicate why Honda is the largest producer of two-wheelers in the world. Right from the massive Goldwing to the Batpod like NC750 J to the modern classic CB 1100 EX to the towering Africa Twin to the humble parallel twin powered 500cc CBR’s, nearly every bike in the Honda range was placed at our disposal. We started off with a safety briefing and then moved on to test riding the bikes on a set course to acclimatise to them as quickly as possible. 

One thing was clear, it wasn’t going to be an easy ride as the humid equatorial weather of Malaysia was taking a toll even early in the morning. It was hot, humid and the dark clouds above threatened to dampen our enthusiasm. Post the lengthy safety sessions, talking, eating and the flag-off ritual we were finally on the road and under the scorching sun. Thankfully, the heat wasn't so bad while on the move. I was allotted the new 2017 CB1000R and it was a hoot to ride. The road was mostly a four-lane highway until our refuel point. Riding in a convoy can be a bit boring but we were doing quite a good pace and the torque and the sound from the inline four cylinder engine in the CB1000R kept me entertained. The CB1000R is a really nice bike and it has got a good mix of sportiness and ride comfort. The only thing I was surprised about was the mild vibrations coming through the seat and the foot peg which I wasn’t expecting from an inline four Honda engine.

After the fuel stop, the fun began. I got to ride the CBR 650F and the road up ahead was curvy and beautifully paved. Some might find the 650F to be too mild or boring but on this road I just fell in love with it. It felt surprisingly nimble and the riding position, which was sporty yet comfortable, made the ride even more pleasurable. I was having so much fun that I got carried away and ended up overtaking 30 odd bikes, which I wasn’t supposed to do. The way the CBR 650F turns in to corners is really surprising and even though it doesn’t have the safety net of traction control, getting on the power even when leant over is easy as the in-line four delivers power in a linear fashion. But more than the bike, it was the scenery surprised me. When you think of Malaysia, the first that comes to mind is the hot and humid climate. But as we climbed on our way to Cameroon Highlands, the backdrop of the valley was breathtaking and the climate was pleasant and borderline chilly.

Day 2

Dinner and a good night's sleep in the Highland air was all the restorative we needed and the next morning, all the riders were ready to leave for Putrajaya which is located near Kuala Lumper. We were supposed to take the same route down the mountain, so I was praying to get something small and nimble to ride down the beautiful mountain pass and that’s exactly what I got. I was handed over the keys to the NC750X which is basically a commuter cum adventure motorcycle. The version I was riding had a DCT gearbox. At first the NC750X felt easy to ride and the tall seating made maneuvering it easy, especially over tight turns. What I wasn’t too happy about was the DCT transmission which kept getting confused especially while riding at constant throttle. But as soon as I shifted to manual mode this deficiency was cured and I had a pleasant ride until we reached our breakfast point. Although it isn’t a very sporty motorcycle, the torque from the parallel twin engine was really handy and despite me not being used to riding an automatic bike, I felt right at home from the word go. 

But the bike which I rode next after breakfast was more fun. I got my hands on the CB500F which is the naked version of the CBR 500 R. At 47bhp, it was by far the least powerful bike I rode on this trip, but still it was loads of fun. The parallel twin engine on this bike is rev happy and the light chassis meant I could exploit the whole potential of the bike without getting scared. This nimble behavior also meant it was easy to keep up with the other bikes that were much more powerful. In fact, I really feel that Honda should consider bringing this small yet fun machine to India. 

After having fun on this small and potent CB500F, it was time to stop for lunch. Post lunch, and wiping off a plateful of yummy local food, for the first time on this ride, I was feeling a bit lazy. Although that's not surprising given our early morning start. Luckily I got the keys to the fifth generation Gold Wing, which suited my mood perfectly. All excited I stowed my sizable backpack in the massive trunk and strung my foot over this gigantic motorcycle. This was the updated model from 2010 and it had all the bells and whistles like a six speaker audio system with radio, Aux-in and ipod connectivity. Eager to get on the road quickly, I forgot just how heavy this six-cylinder-powered bike is. As I lifted the bike off its side stand, I almost fell over onto the other side. Luckily two well-built gents rushed to my aid before it could unfold into an  embarrassing incident. The Gold Wing’s party trick though, is the sound system that was so loud that fellow riders were trying to ride close to me to hear the radio. The Gold Wing is a bike that just pampers you. The seat comfort is such that you can keep riding for hours without getting a sore bum and then there is the engine which has the torque that most cars don’t have. It is surprisingly easy to ride, that is if you don’t try to hustle it like a small bike and the buttery smooth engine makes traffic riding quite easy too. One issue I had with the Gold Wing was the massive windscreen. It’s all good when the weather is fine but when it rains heavily like it did as we neared our destination, it is very hard to see through it. 

After a long day's ride, we reached our Hotel in Putrajaya and but our work wasn’t over yet. In an hour’s time we had to board a bus to go meet and greet the Honda MotoGp riders! It was an event that will be etched in my memory forever. Apart from the fabulous show, I also got to meet my hero! Marc Marquez. Although it lasted for just a few seconds it certainly made my year.

Day 3

The last day of my trip had arrived and it was shaping up to be the best one, as we were going to ride to the Sepang International circuit to watch the MotoGp race live! Today it wasn't just the 60 of us riding to the racetrack. We were also joined by hundreds of local Honda owners. It was a sight to behold as the loud howls of the inline fours, V6s and parallel twins arrived at the racetrack in style.

The atmosphere in and around the racetrack was electric! With a record attendance of over a lakh for this GP, I have never seen a place as buzzing and lively as this one. Although I would have been content to watch the race from the grandstand, Honda India made a special effort to get us media access, so that we could enjoy this grand event to the fullest. We ran from one side of the paddock to the other to get a glimpse of the race.

It was heartening to see the amount of passion people have in this part of the world for MotoGP. It was extremely hot and humid yet all the spectators were enjoying themselves to the fullest. The race was a dream for me as Marquez won it and that too in style. It was also a privilege to be present on the day Honda also clinched the 2018 MotoGp constructors’ championship. Being a hardcore Marc Marquez fan also meant there was a good likelihood of me getting beaten up, as I was wearing a Marquez T-Shirt and was also one of the few guys who were happy to see him take the lead after Rossi’s slow speed slide.

All good things come to an end

Overall the Honda Asian Journey 2018 has been a trip that won’t get erased from my memory anytime soon. It had a mixture of everything that you look forward to on a bike trip. A passionate group of people, an enjoyable road journey around beautifully paved roads on potent bikes, seeing the best riders on the fastest bikes race each other. And most importantly, I got to meet my hero Marc Marquez. Thank you team Honda and congratulations on winning the championship.